'ballistophobia' originates from Greek/New Latin combining forms, specifically from the combining form 'ballisto-' (from Greek 'ballistēs' / Latin 'ballista') where 'ballist-' meant 'projectile' or 'to throw', and Greek 'phobos' where 'phobos' meant 'fear'.

'ballistophobia' was formed in modern English by combining the classical combining form 'ballisto-' (referring to projectiles or missile engines such as the 'ballista') with the suffix '-phobia' (from Greek 'phobos'), producing a neologism meaning fear of ballistic projectiles and related phenomena.

Initially the roots referred specifically to ancient missile weapons (e.g. the 'ballista') and 'phobos' to fear; over time the coined term came to denote a generalized fear of bullets, firearms, missiles, or being shot.